Post Sexual Abuse Trauma

TLDR

Long‑term psychological effects of sexual abuse are viewed through developmental and PTSD lenses. The study examined incidence and long‑term effects of childhood sexual abuse in 152 adult women. About 44% of clients reported childhood sexual abuse, which was linked to dissociation, sleep problems, tension, sexual issues, anger, higher psychoactive medication use, more suicide attempts, substance addiction, and revictimization, underscoring implications for mental‑health practice.

Abstract

The incidence and long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse were studied in a clinical sample of 152 adult women. Approximately 44% of female clients presenting to a health center crisis service reported a childhood history of sexual victimization. Prior victimization was associated with increased dissociation, sleep disturbance, tension, sexual problems, and anger on a Crisis Symptom Checklist, as well as greater current use of psychoactive medications, and more frequent histories of suicide attempts, substance addiction, and revictimization. Long-term psychological effects of sexual abuse are interpreted within both a developmental context and in terms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Implications of the current data and related literature for mental health workers are briefly discussed.